WHITEHOUSE, Westmoreland — Some property owners still hoping for Government support to get back on their feet will hear, in a matter of days, that help is on the way.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness said Friday that more funds are being made available to the Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) programme, which assists households that sustained minor, major, or severe damage during Hurricane Melissa.

“In a few more days, you will hear from the news about a new allocation to the ROOFS programme. And that allocation will start the process again. Some of you who have been going to the bank or looking for the text, you will now get it,” assured Holness.

Under the first phase of the programme, $10 billion was earmarked for assistance with a promise that additional funds would be provided as needed at a later date.

Speaking on Friday, the prime minister did not provide details of how much more money would be allocated or when payments would begin.

Holness was addressing Whitehouse residents during a National Road Safety and Redevelopment Authority (NaRRA) site visit in Westmoreland Eastern and Central. The Category 5 storm made landfall near New Hope in the Whitehouse area last October.

The prime minister noted that while some people remain under tarpaulin and are frustrated, he is confident that their political representatives are working in their favour.

“We have to be very careful how we make the allocations in the budget because, whilst we might make the allocation and give everybody one time, at the end of the day, you end up in debt, which places more taxes on you,” reasoned Holness.

Addressing whether the programme would conclude by December, he noted that while the Government can target that timeline, it is not a certainty due to funding availability.

“As I said, $10 billion out of the budget is a huge sum, and we have to be very careful how we make these payments. So as we get revenue, we make payments. My own view on it is that we can target [it] to end by December, but I’m not going to [come] here [and] make a commitment that absolutely we can,” stated Holness, who noted that those who have already been registered will be supported.

The prime minister also responded to queries regarding individuals who self-reported property loss to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) but have not yet received a site visit, as well as those who were visited but found missing from the official registry.

Following discussions with Portfolio Minister Pearnel Charles Jr on Thursday, Holness confirmed that the MLSS will conduct a comprehensive review of the list to ensure genuine beneficiaries are included.

The prime minister also made it clear that the grant is for one household.

“The grant is not to every single individual. If your house is damaged, they come and they inspect your house, and the grant is for the repair of the house. It’s tied to the household,” stressed Holness.

Addressing public perception, funding transparency, and overseas contributions, he emphasised that donations have been allocated to tangible projects where the impact is clearly visible.

“I have been your prime minister for 10 years. I have been in Government for more than 15 years, and I have been a Member of Parliament heading on to almost 30 years. I know the Jamaican people well. They will cuss you. They will say all kinds of evil about you. And as I’m walking in the market, it’s the same set of people who come hug me up, want to shake my hand. I can’t take it make practice,” quipped Holness as he turned towards the MP for Westmoreland Eastern, the People’s National Party’s Dr Dayton Campbell, who was standing beside him.

“However, there are those persons who will seek to mislead you, and you have to be careful of that. Not everything that is being said is true, and there are sources of information that are verified that you should pay attention to. The country has received donations from Jamaicans and others overseas. From the outset, we were very clear that we must use those donations in tangible ways — meaning in ways that we can point to. We are not using those donations to do things for which you can’t see the benefit right away. We decided that those funds, we will use them to support the restoration of roofs through the purchase of materials that the JDF will use and other militaries that came to support us to restore roofs,” explained Holness.

He said more than 500 roofs have been repaired so far, with more than 200 completed in the Westmoreland Eastern constituency alone.

“We decided that we will use most of the resources donated to build the bases and support the installation of the modular semi-permanent houses. You can go and see the foundation, and you can see the house. And that is what we have been doing. If I gave money to anyone, I would want to see what that money has done. And the Jamaicans abroad will be able to see the modular houses installed, which we are now doing. The roofs can’t hide!” added Holness.

“When you give it as a grant, a man can always say, ‘Boy, mi never get it,’ or they could get it and buy fancy hair and go bar,” the PM continued.

Acknowledging the strong likelihood that some of the funds are not being used for the intended purposes, Holness took comfort in the thought that it would spur growth.

“Your resources, your taxpayer, all of you who pay GCT and property tax — some of that money goes into that $10 billion. We give it to you to repair your roofs, and we say that $75,000 of it can help you to restart your household, whether it is for uniforms, books, and so on. But I’m almost certain that there are some persons who have used the funds not for their recovery. But is so it go. Everything gets back into the economy, and it helps,” the prime minister said.